Research Article

Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Essential Oil Yield and Composition of Thymus syriacus Boiss. Cultivated Under the Mediterranean Conditions

Number: Advanced Online Publication February 27, 2026
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Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Essential Oil Yield and Composition of Thymus syriacus Boiss. Cultivated Under the Mediterranean Conditions

Abstract

Thymus syriacus Boiss. It is an evergreen, perennial sub-shrub that is distributed throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, including Türkiye. The use of organic and mineral fertilizers differs in their contributions to sustainability and soil fertility. While the mineral fertilizers are believed to ensure rapid nutrient availability, organic fertilizers play a vital role in maintaining long-term soil health and supporting sustainable production systems. In the present study, a field experiment on T. syriacus Boiss. was conducted to examine the effects of organic and mineral fertilizers on essential oil (EO) content and composition in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Türkiye. The treatments included control (no fertilizer), manure (25 ton ha-1), vermicompost (10 ton ha-1), and mineral fertilizer (0.4 ton ha-1). Treatments were found to be significantly effective on EO content and components (p<0.05). In both years, control had lower EO content (1.12-1.87%); furthermore, vermicompost had the highest EO content (1.30-2.57%). In the 2nd year, fertilizer applications had significantly improved essential oil content compared with the control. Carvacrol and o-cymene were found as the main components. Carvacrol content ranged from 62.98% to 84.56%, with the highest observed in second-year vermicompost-applied samples. As a result, vermicompost organic fertilizer can be recommended for the sustainable cultivation of T. syriacus, as it improves soil health while maintaining high essential oil yield and carvacrol content similar to or even greater than those achieved with mineral fertilizers.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

February 27, 2026

Publication Date

February 27, 2026

Submission Date

May 28, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 31, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

APA
Bahadırlı, N. P., & Bahadırlı, M. (2026). Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Essential Oil Yield and Composition of Thymus syriacus Boiss. Cultivated Under the Mediterranean Conditions. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi, Advanced Online Publication, 968-976. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1707850


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